My hubby is fine: Elizabeth

HARARE - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife Elizabeth yesterday insisted that her husband was fit after falling “sick just like any other human being” and was strong enough to resume his duties.

Speaking to the Daily News at the couple’s Harare home yesterday, Elizabeth said her husband was not seriously ill as suggested by the media insisting that the former prime minister has been resting at their Highlands home.

Reports indicated yesterday that Tsvangirai was seriously ill and had been hospitalised.

Officials said Tsvangirai has been paying intermittent visits to doctors for observation.

Tsvangirai on Sunday cancelled his scheduled address at a rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield after failing to pitch up at a Glen View rally two weeks ago, triggering speculation that the ex-PM is seriously ill.

Press reports suggested he was hospitalised on Tuesday, adding another dimension to the enduring theories that the ex-premier was seriously unwell, reportedly suffering from “mental” and “nervous” breakdown.

But yesterday the couple opened their doors to the media, with Elizabeth, who has of late assumed a low profile, speaking passionately about her husband.

“Ndozvakaita munhu anorwara here izvi? (Is this how a sick person looks like?)” she asked, looking fondly at Tsvangirai, who sat slouched in a sofa at the couple’s Highlands home.“He is very fine and fit.”

The MDC leader, who was basking in the sun when reporters arrived at his home, was asked to change his seat. He walked unaided, chuckling that journalists had blown his health problems out of proportion.

“What is wrong with journalists? Zimbabwean journalists have a problem, munhu anorambidzwa kurwara here? (Is it illegal for a person to fall sick?) It is now thou shall not fall sick,” the MDC leader said, to which his wife chipped in, “Vari right ava (He is fine).”

The couple however declined to take questions from journalists, with Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, saying his boss was under strict doctors’ instructions not to strain himself, including speaking to the media and addressing rallies.

“President Morgan Tsvangirai is resting at home in compliance with what his doctors ordered, contrary to media reports that he is seriously ill and is detained at a hospital in Harare,” he said.

“On Sunday, his doctors said he was exhausted, a condition the medical experts attributed to overworking. They immediately ordered him to rest, which made him miss the party’s Africa Day rally in Highfield.”

According to Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai was never hospitalised but has been resting at his Highlands home, with visits into the city centre for observation by his doctors.

But sources yesterday said he had been detained in hospital for a day.

The MDC has however, kept a heavy lid on the illness affecting the veteran trade unionist, amid frenzied speculation.

“We see no reason to mislead the nation on president Tsvangirai’s state of health and we have been open about his condition since this last weekend,” Tamborinyoka said.

The spokesman said they have publicly maintained since Sunday that he was recuperating at his Highlands home.

Stocking Tsvangirai’s legendary rivalry with President Robert Mugabe, who has been receiving frequent treatment in a top-notch Singapore medical facility, Tsvangirai’s spokesman said the former PM preferred to be treated locally.

“More importantly, unlike other political leaders who fly out to up-market hospitals outside the country for medical treatment, president Tsvangirai has exhibited faith in local medical expertise and health facilities,” Tamborinyoka said.

“Our doctors and other civil servants are working under very difficult circumstances but president Tsvangirai has retained his faith in their ability to discharge of their duties.

“Zimbabweans should not panic. President Tsvangirai is in fine spirits and will be back to work soon to continue with his mission to bring positive change in the lives of the people of Zimbabwe.”

Comments (32)

Even faithfull unto death Tamborinyoka is gaining mileage out of his boss's illness! How heartless can one be? VaMugabe na vaTasvangirai vanhu, vakagwara tinofanira kuvanzwirawo, hunhu whedu makaisa kupi? zvinosvodesa.

Don Wezhira - 29 May 2014

In african culture if the spouse says her sick husband is now ok we fully believe because that means he can do what a sick man can not do . In this case Morgan .'s wife has said her husband is now ok that means that , Thanks mama for taking care of our leader.

Diibulaanyika - 29 May 2014

...the print media is now fighting a bitter war against the Peoples Movement, the MDC T.....we the grassroots supporters will not be swayed by those vicious and frivolous accusations and counter false statements about our dear leader in order to weaken the cause.....but of course all is a bunch of horse manure.......this kind of news quickly vanishes as we move foward to change in this country.......ZANU PF is now bereft of new ideas to stimulate this dying economy, the thing is, all eyes are being swayed away from this state of affairs to cheap politicking ........the once, popular paper The Newsday has also joined in this bandwagon of deception.......day in and day out they write negative headlines......... people in Zimbabwe have been reduced to poverty by this regime which continue to loot our national resources like demented hyenas.......Tsvangirai is the man of which this country looks up to from now and the future.

Steel Wire - 29 May 2014

Don Wezhira you change colour like a chameleon to for some of us who have been following your contributions the truth of the matter is that you are Zanu PF to the bone. You must not pretend to feel sorry for our President. we don't need your soft stance towards Save.

Kachembere kekwaChivi - 29 May 2014

MT's quick recovery is the worst news for his blind enemies in Zimbabwe.We know his great work before&DURING the GNU. EVEN HIS ENEMIES KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE POSITIVES OF THE GNU FAR OUTWEIGH THE NEGATIVES. We also know who in the GNU gvt resisted positive change & why. We understand the enormous task he is currently facing &still faces till final VICTORY which is certain. WE LOVE YOU SAVE.KEEP THE FIRE BURNING DESPITE THE REBELLION.

MWOYOUNOTSVA - 29 May 2014

vanhuwee zimbabwe will never go any where as long as we are being ruled by mugabe.as a foreigner i mean of malawian origin he doesnt care about the suffering of the masses.he has employed and continues to reward a click of sellouts who thrive in confusions.as long as there is confusion the better for the mafia and they will continue provoking the west so that they . keep on blaming the sanctions while the looting continues.vakaranga,vamanyika,mandebele,work up mazezuru tend to benefit from this malawian.work up

mamobodyo - 29 May 2014

By the way,which hospital,doctor or clinic in Zimbabwe charges thousands of US$s for just a week's medical treatment? We read in disbelief,a herald story alleging MT failed to pay a hospital bill of about US$2000,00 for his recent treatment.This is utter nonsense.

Of course the man has every right to fall sick, what with the stress he has been under of late. But don't expect us to sympathise with him just because you glorify him for seeking treatment locally. We all know the man is broke and cannot afford to go to the city council clinic hence the great escape from Trauma Centre! Luke Tamborinyoka should stop his inept spin doctoring and just tell the truth. Hanzi blaz akupenga uyu.Titaurireyi chokwadi.

We people seem to lose our topics on trivial matters of kutsvinyirana becoz of different political affiliations and mixing personal issues with politics. What you and me want from the high offices are matters of developing our country and constructive issues of developing employment for the young generations and so forth. Why can!t we grow up a bit. Pliz give a little bit of thoughts to the above and contribute some how.

chesango - 30 May 2014

Its beta not to force yourself when sick than go and collapse before the multitude .Get well soon Chematama

Pakuramunhumashokoanowanda - 30 May 2014

Because President Mugabe is not well, the state media wishes to balance this by reporting that Tsvangirayi is also sick. As if this will change their health status. What rotten base journalism! Shame on you Herald.

Johno - 30 May 2014

If your teacher used to mark your wrong work wrong, and you grumbled silently, protesting and ganging up with other fools to accuse the teacher of favoritism and hatred and you think people will follow that nonsense.....wakasara today people are learned, they will watch steps, read your propaganda, eat whatever you provide them with and punish you on the election day.

Mbada Murenje - 30 May 2014

@Kunta kinte; l stay in South Africa and with $4000 Tsvangirai could have been treated in a private hospital for 2 days bed plus food. Whats your point then about being broke?

Mzwazwakankoviyo - 30 May 2014

Vanhu munongozvinetsa nezvinhu zvisina basa, the bottom line is mazuva akapiwa Robert naMorgan nemi mese panyika akangokwana chete they will die, not even a second will be added once that time is up.

Mrs.E.Tsvangirai, remember ZANU-PF are so desperate about how best they can discredit your hubby. They even unwittingly embarrass themselves by using the herald & ZBC to peddle their obvious lies. We hope you are yourself not going to be used to fight your own man. These people think you are one of those loose women who have no morals to worry about. They can use a person like a condom but they will fail like the LEADERSHIP RENEWAL TEAM.

zvarwadza musatya - 2 June 2014

If he is not sick why is it that he has to be told kuti move where you are or to be told by someone to change paakagara, hameno only god knows

Post a comment

Readers are kindly requested to refrain from using abusive,
vulgar, racist, tribalistic, sexist, discriminatory and hurtful
language when posting their comments on the Daily News website.
Those who transgress this civilised etiquette will be barred from
contributing to our online discussions.- Editor